First Aid Trauma Kit Case

ABSTRACT

A first aid trauma kit case that provides for a means of treating specific trauma injuries related to massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax. An embodiment of the first aid trauma kit case contains as part of its architecture an easily readable format for identifying an injury location and instructions, that are integrated as part of the case, on how to apply certain specific medical devices contained within the case. An embodiment of the case also provides for a color-coded identification system for easy identification of the preferred treatment method for the suffered trauma injury. The design of the integrated instructions and the color-coded system work in tandem to provide for a quick method of identifying and treating specific types of trauma related injuries.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of medical kits and, more particularly, relates to trauma medical kits for the treatment of emergency medicine in emergency situations.

BACKGROUND

In emergency medical situations where a person is exposed to a trauma related injury, such as an active shooter incident where a person has suffered a gunshot wound to the upper torso, a limb or a junctional area such as the hip or shoulder, time is of the essence for treating treatable life-threatening wounds. More often than not, first responders and professional medical care is not close enough to render the proper medical aid in time to save the life of a person afflicted with this type of treatable traumatic injury. Prior art in this crowded field has attempted to address this issue, however, there has been no widespread acceptance or solution to this problem. A plethora of prior art demonstrate numerous medical kits claiming easy to use treatment for trauma related injuries, however, none address the issue that is the need for specific trauma care that is needed in the gap in time that exists, between the time of traumatic injury and treatment by a first responder or professional medical care. For example a trauma injury that severs the femoral artery can result in death in as little as two minutes, the average response for law enforcement to the scene of an active shooter situation ranges from three to five minutes.

A prior art example provides for a trauma medical kit that treats a wide variety of trauma related injuries ranging from treating an eye injury to massive bleeding and includes a multitude of treatment options accompanied by color coordination and an instructional card. In an emergency situation where a person should be focused on life saving trauma care the addition of non-life threating injury treatment packets can be confusing and overwhelming. An eye injury is not a life-threatening injury that should be compared to a femoral artery bleed which is considered a massive bleed and can result in death in as little as two minutes. Furthermore, in a life-threatening situation the inclusion of a multitude of treatment options for a particular type of injury will only cause confusion and ultimately delay life-saving treatment while a lay person who is attempting to render aid attempts to determine which is the most appropriate treatment option. Every delay wastes precious time that literally means the difference between life and death.

In this same prior art, a separate but connected information chart with pictorial representations of particular treatment steps is provided for to accompany the trauma kit and assist users. This is problematic as the chart can be separated from the kit as any type of tether may break. In another prior art example, a medical compartment cover is provided for which can be removed and provides information for use of the medical care kit contents. This has the same separation issue that is the separation of treatment and instructions to apply such treatments. Medical kits are often carried in a variety of ways and are subject to hard use, accordingly any type of instructional card, chart, or information that can be separated from the kit itself presents the problem of separating the instructions from the medical kits and devices they contain. Without instructions a lay person will not be able to effectively render life-saving aid.

Additional prior art and unpublished prior art examples provide for medical treatment packets. This is problematic in that the precious time it takes opening a package can result in an untimely death. Unpublished prior art examples actually contain life saving trauma devices in a vacuum sealed plastic pouch that takes tools to cut into and open. If a person in need does not have a tool to open the package they will die as a result of not being able to access needed medical devices.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the invention provides for a first aid trauma kit case that is designed to assist a lay person in the treatment of trauma related injury relating to massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax. The case has a first and second concave section that is hingedly connected along a first edge and means for temporarily attaching the first and second sections. The exterior of the first section has a color coded diagram of a human figure and the exterior second section has a plurality of color coded written instructions. The plurality of color coded written instructions describe how to use the medical devices contained within the first aid trauma kit case. When the first aid trauma kit case is opened the color coded human figure aligns with the color coded plurality of instructions creating a quick, visual and easy to read means of identifying and treating massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax types of trauma injuries. The ease of use of the invention will help fill the gap of time that exists between the occurrence of a traumatic injury and professional medical care.

An embodiment of the invention provides for the interior of the first and second concave sections to contain color coded areas that correlate with the human figure and plurality of written instructions. This provides for easy identification of needed medical devices to treat a specific type of trauma injury. Additionally, an embodiment of the invention includes color coded elastic straps to secure certain medical devices within it. In still a further embodiment of the invention the first aid trauma kit case contains a tourniquet, occlusive dressing and gauze. By only containing essential life saving medical devices related to trauma injuries related to massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax the invention will be less intimidating and less confusing to a person not possessing advanced medical training.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of the present invention showing the first aid trauma kit case in the open position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of the present invention showing the first aid trauma kit case in the open position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the interior of the present invention containing a tourniquet, an occlusive dressing and gauze.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary, non-limiting, embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below. While specific configurations are discussed to provide a clear understanding, it should be understood that the disclosed configurations are provided for illustration purposes only. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

An embodiment of the invention provides a first aid trauma kit case that has color-coded instructions, a color-coded human figure, a color-coded interior and color-coded interior elastic straps that correlate with each other in a manner that is designed to assist a lay person in the treatment of certain trauma related injuries relating to massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax. For example, a person who has suffered a traumatic injury such as a gunshot wound to the upper torso can recognize on the color-coded human figure a color in the human figure that matches the location of their injury and then they can easily use that color to identify the instructions on what medical device to use and how to apply that specific medical device by matching the color located on the color-coded human figure to the color-coded instructions located on the opposite exterior side of the invention. The person can then open the invention and identify by the interior and elastic strap color the medical device contained within the invention that treats their injury, in this example an occlusive dressing. The manner in which the color-coded figure and color-coded instructions are integrated into the invention provides for an easily readable format similar to that of a book making it easier for person who has suffered a traumatic injury or is in shock from observing someone who has suffered such an injury to identify, read and understand the needed type of treatment and instructions to apply such treatment. Additionally, by integrating these elements into the case there is no risk of separation of instructions from the case.

FIG. 1. illustrates the exterior of the first aid trauma kit case 100 while in the open position. The first 200 and second 300 concave sections are aligned next to one another. The manner in which the color-coded human figure and color-coded instructions align save precious time in identifying the treating a life-threatening injury by creating a familiar format. In times of great stress, such as when traumatic injury is suffered, familiarity creates a calming effect. The invention is hingedly connected 120 in a permanent manner on one edge, while the other edges are able to be connected temporarily, in this embodiment by a zipper 140. It is recognized that other methods may be used for the temporary connection of the edges, including but not limited to a strip of hook and loop fasteners. The invention can be formed from flexible material, semi-flexible material, rigid material or a combination thereof.

The exterior of the first concave section 200 has a color-coded human FIG. 240 integrated into its design. In at least one embodiment of the invention the color-coded human FIG. 240 is divided into nine sections. The head 241, right shoulder 242, left shoulder 243, upper torso 245, right arm 244, left arm 246, hip and pelvic area 247, right leg 248 and left leg 249. It is recognized that these distinguished areas in the human FIG. 240 are subject to change depending on the detail of the human FIG. 240. The areas that are color-coded are dependent on treatment area locations for massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax. In at least one embodiment of the invention a cross design 220 is located above the color-coded human FIG. 240.

The exterior of the second concave section 300 has color-coded written instructions integrated into its design. In at least one embodiment of the invention instructions for identification and application of three specific medical devices is provided. The color of the instructions will match with colors on the human FIG. 240 to identify which medical device is needed to treat a specific injury dependent upon the location of the injury on the body of the person who has suffered the injury. In an least one embodiment the instructions for use of a tourniquet 320 are on top, instructions for use of an occlusive dressing 340 is in the middle and instructions for use of gauze 360 is on the bottom. In an embodiment of the invention the written instructions are accompanied by pictorial representations near the written text.

In at least one embodiment of the invention the color located in the right arm 244, left arm 246, right leg 248 and left leg 249 of the human FIG. 240 will match with color of the top instructions 320. The color located in the upper torso 245 of the human FIG. 240 will match the color of the middle instructions 340. The color located in the right shoulder 242, left shoulder 243 and hip and pelvic area 247 of the human FIG. 240 will match the color of the bottom instructions 360. The color of the head 241 will not match any color-coded instructions.

In at least one embodiment of the invention the top 320, middle 340 and bottom 360 color-coded instructions located on the exterior of the second concave section 300 describe specific instructions for the medical devices contained within the present invention designed to treat massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax. A person trained in the field will recognize that different brands and types of medical devices used to treat massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax will require different instructions. For purposes of this illustration the top 320, middle 340 and bottom 360 instructions are using incoherent text to demonstrate how specific instructions will be displayed.

FIG. 2 illustrates an interior perspective of the present invention in the open position. The first aid trauma kit case 100 is hingedly connected on one edge 120, while the other edges are affixed with a temporary means, in this embodiment a zipper 140. The configuration of the interior is dependent upon the medical devices contained within it for treatment of massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax. In at least one embodiment of the invention an entire interior concave section 600 is designed to fit and carry an occlusive dressing, while the other interior concave section 640 is designed to fit and carry a tourniquet and gauze as represented in FIG. 3.

The interior colors of the present invention will be color-coded to identify treatment of specific trauma injuries identified and described on the exterior of the invention by the human figure and instructions as shown in FIG. 1. In at least one embodiment the right interior side 600 color will match the color of the middle instructions 340, the right portion of the left interior side 500 will match the color of the bottom instructions 360, and the left portion of the left interior side 400 will match the color of the top instructions 320.

The medical devices contained within the present invention are held in place by color-coded elastic straps that match the interior colors they overlap, and exterior colors of the instructions and human FIG. 240. These elastic straps are permanently affixed to the interior of the invention. In at least one embodiment of the invention the right side strap 620 color will match the color of the middle instructions 340, the strap over the right portion of the left interior side 520 will match the color of the bottom instructions 360, and the strap over the left portion of the left interior side 420 will match the color of the top instructions 320.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the interior perspective of the invention in the open position with the case containing a tourniquet 700, occlusive dressing 740, gauze 720 and plastic gloves 760. The right interior side 600 depicts the elastic strap 620 holding in place an occlusive dressing 740 in place. The right elastic strap portion of the left interior side 640 depicts the elastic strap 520 holding in place gauze 720. Below the gauze is a rolled-up pair of plastic gloves 760. The left elastic strap portion of the left interior side 640 depicts the elastic strap 420 holding in place a tourniquet 700. It is recognized that there are alternate configurations for the interior of the invention dependent on the size and design of specific medical devices for the treatment of massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax.

Referring back to FIG. 1 a user of the present invention will be able to locate a color-coding on the human FIG. 240 that matches their specific trauma injury, the person will then be able to identify from the color-coding the proper medical device and instructions from aligning the color-coded instructions located on the second concave section 300 up with the first concave section 200. The person will then be able to use the color-coded interior and elastic straps to easily and quickly identify the proper medical device contained within the first aid trauma kit case 100 and use that medical device to save themselves or another person.

The medical devices contained within the present invention shall not be in packets or containers that create unnecessary steps to access them causing an unnecessary delay in treatment of a life-threatening injury. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A first aid trauma kit case, comprising: a case having first and second concave sections hingedly connected along a first edge of each section and including means for attaching the first and second concave sections together temporarily along the other edges; a color coded diagram of a human figure is located on the exterior of first concave section; a plurality of color coded written instructions identifying medical treatment is located on the exterior of the second concave section; whereby when said case is opened the color coded human figure aligns with the color coded plurality of instructions creating a quick, visual and easy to read means of identifying and treating massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax type of trauma injuries.
 2. The first aid trauma kit of claim 1 wherein said concave sections contain color coded areas on the interior of each side of the concave sections that correlate with the human figure and plurality of written instructions; wherein the color coded means makes the treatment and application of a medical device readily distinguishable.
 3. The first aid trauma kit of claim 1 wherein the interior of the case contains color coded elastic straps on the interior of each side of the concave sections that correlate with the human figure and plurality of written instructions.
 4. The first aid trauma kit of claim 1 wherein the interior of the case contains medical devices for the treatment of massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax in designated areas that correlate with the color coded human figure and plurality of written instructions;
 5. A first aid trauma kit case, comprising: a case having first and second concave sections hingedly connected along a first edge of each section and including means for attaching the first and second concave sections together temporarily along the other edges; a color coded diagram of a human figure is located on the exterior of first concave section; a plurality of color coded written instructions identifying medical treatment is located on the exterior of the second concave section; whereby when said case is opened the color coded human figure aligns with the color coded plurality of instructions; a color coded area on the interior of the concave section containing a tourniquet that correlates with the human figure and plurality of written instructions; a color coded area on the interior of the concave section containing a occlusive dressing that correlates with the human figure and plurality of written instructions; a color coded area on the interior of the concave section containing gauze that correlates with the human figure and plurality of written instructions; wherein the color coded means makes the treatment and application of a medical device readily distinguishable.
 6. The first aid trauma kit of claim 5 wherein said concave sections contain color coded areas on the interior of each side of the concave sections that correlate with the human figure and plurality of written instructions.
 7. The first aid trauma kit of claim 5 wherein the interior of the case contains color coded elastic straps on the interior of each side of the concave sections that correlate with the human figure and plurality of written instructions.
 8. A method for the administering first aid comprising of the steps of: utilizing a case having: a first and second concave sections hingedly connected along a first edge of each section and including means for attaching the first and second concave sections together temporarily along the other edges; a color coded diagram of a human figure is located on the exterior of first concave section; a plurality of color coded written instructions identifying medical treatment is located on the exterior of the second concave section; an interior of said case where concave sections contain color coded areas on the interior of each side of the concave sections that correlate with the human figure and plurality of written instructions; an interior containing color coded elastic straps on the interior of each side of the concave sections that correlate with the human figure and plurality of written instructions; an interior containing medical devices for the treatment of massive bleeding and tension pneumothorax in designated areas that correlate with the color coded human figure and plurality of written instructions; identifying the type of trauma injury sustained by comparing a victim to the human figure on the exterior of the case; opening the case and utilizing the color coded system of said case to locate the instructions to treat the identified type of trauma injury sustained; distinguishing the type of medical device to use located in the interior of said case by means of color coded elastic strap and interior; and treating the identified trauma injury sustained with the device contained within said case.
 9. A method for the administering first aid comprising of the steps of: utilizing a case having: a first and second concave sections hingedly connected along a first edge of each section and including means for attaching the first and second concave sections together temporarily along the other edges; a color coded diagram of a human figure is located on the exterior of first concave section; a plurality of color coded written instructions identifying medical treatment is located on the exterior of the second concave section; an interior of said case where concave sections contain color coded areas on the interior of each side of the concave sections that correlate with the human figure and plurality of written instructions; an interior containing color coded elastic straps on the interior of each side of the concave sections that correlate with the human figure and plurality of written instructions; an interior containing a tourniquet, occlusive dressing and gauze in designated areas that correlate with the color coded human figure and plurality of written instructions; identifying the type of trauma injury sustained by comparing a victim to the human figure on the exterior of the case; opening the case and utilizing the color coded system of said case to locate the instructions to treat the identified type of trauma injury sustained; distinguishing the type of medical device to use located in the interior of said case by means of color coded elastic strap and interior; and treating the identified trauma injury sustained with the tourniquet, occlusive dressing or gauze contained within said case. 